Page 14 of The Stolen Kingdom

“I am open, but she is blocking me. I am sure she can feel how fucking angry I am,” Valda snapped, as she guided her horse to gallop next to Isen’s.

“Sure. Of course, maybe that’s not the emotion she wants to feel coming from you.”

“I used to feel her just fine, Isen.”

“Huh. Strange. I’ve never been cut off by Melvian, even in our worst fights.” Isen said and rubbed his chest as he closed his eyes. “Melvian is tired, nervous.”

“Nervous? Are they in danger?” Valda moved her hand to the Heaven Sword dangling from her belt.

“No. She is not in danger because she is not scared. She is nervous probably because she will arrive soon in New Agenor. My sister wasn’t welcoming when I presented her as my mate.” Isen paused. “She is also hungry and angry about it.”

“Good for you,” Valda scoffed with envy. “You’ve been mated longer than I have, I presume?”

“Not that long. I am noexpert—”

“You sound like one,” Valda said, her upper lip twitching in annoyance. “I don’t hide from Maris.”

“Then you should have no problem communicating.” He paused and narrowed his eyes. “What is she feeling right now?”

“I told you she is blocking me.”

“Try harder, Your Highness.”

Valda’s grip on the horse’s reins tightened. She took a deep, slow breath, tried to ignore the pounding pain in her body, and closed her eyes. Her body swayed with every gallop. She held her breath before exhaling slowly. The tug at her chest was weak, but it was there. She concentrated on the soft draw, as if pulling Maris’s sleeve like she was a lost child. Maris didn’t answer; she felt her jerk away from Valda. She could almost imagine Maris looking back at her before turning her attention to whatever she was doing.

Valda found Isen looking at her. She felt ashamed because she couldn’t tell what Maris was feeling. She didn’t even know how to put it into words. Valda swallowed hard, and she pressed her lips into a fine line as she tried to get herself back in order.

“Well?” Isen asked.

“All I feel is anger coming from her.” Valda tried so hard not to spill her tears, but the feeling coursing through her was something she had never experienced before.

Valda felt abandoned by her own mate.

“That is a good thing!”

“How is feeling only anger from her a good thing, Isen?”

“Because you are feeling something! At least she is not completely shut off, besides it is understandable. You can’t blame her.”

“I can’t… but it hurt that she simply shut me out without letting me explain.”

Isen nodded. “Sometimes it is wise to give someone space before throwing all your reasons and apologies at them. I am sure she will come around. After all, you two have overcome obstacles beyond reckoning to be together. Imagine finding your mate after years of thinking she was dead, and not only that, falling for her regardless of knowing if she was the one or not.” Isen scoffed. “You are lucky, and I am sure Maris just needs time to understand her own feelings before she shares them with you.”

“I don’t think I have the patience, Isen.”

“You will have to. There is no other way.”

Valda bit the inside of her cheek. The soft sway of her horse didn’t upset her stomach, which she was grateful for, yet her chest still felt heavy, she still missed Maris…

As if sensing her discomfort, Cerberus escaped from the backpack she was tucked in and moved to lie on her lap. Valda welcomed her presence with a soft scratch on her chin. The soft purrs were a welcome change, and it somehow calmed the need to puke again.

Frowning in confusion, Valda turned to Isen, who was currently peeling a fruit next to her.

“How come you are not sick too? You are away from your mate, and she is pregnant. I would think that would make your yearning worse.”

“I am sick. My chest is heavy as well and I feel extremely tired,” he said while offering Valda a piece of the fruit. “It is different for everyone, I suppose.”

“Do you… think Maris is sick like me?” Valda asked, taking the orange in her hand and staring at it before deciding it was better not to eat it and gave it back to Isen.

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